Multiple-switch starter.



L. L. TATUM. MULTIPLE SWITCH STAB-TEE. urmonmn 1 1mm In 20, 1907.

918,608. Q 7 v Patented Apr.20, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INV NTOR (I) BY A fl. fim 7 fi ATTORNEIY L. L. TATUM.

MULTIPLE SWITCH STARTER.

AYPLIOATION FILED MAY 20, 1907.

Patented Apr. 20, 1909. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: a INVENTOR L ,ewzJ,Z. 7* WW 52 m 295 W7 ATTORNE L. L. TATUM.

MULTIPLE swmm STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1907.

Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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UNITE STATES PATENT on'nron.

LEWIS L. TATUM, OF NORWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG. 60., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

MULTIPLE-SWITCH STABTEIII.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Application filed May 20, 1907. Seria1No. 374,705.

citizen of the United States, residing at Norwood, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Multiple-Switch Starters, of which the following 1s 'a full, clear, concise,

and exact description; reference being bad to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in motor controllers. It is partlcularly applicable to controllers in which a plurality of hand operated switches are used for controlling a resistance.

According to the preferred form of my invention, I provide a plurality of hand operated s witches which are adapted to be closed in a definite, sequence to remove the starting resistance from the motor circuit, and one of which controls the motor circuit. These switches are maintained in their closed position, preferably by a low. voltage device. This device is adapted to cause the switches controlling the motor circuit to open the circuit upon failure of voltage or in event the voltage falls below a predetermined oint. The resistance of motor starting devices is usually formed of wire which while it is of sufficient capacity to carry the current for a short time, during the starting of the motor, is not of sufficient ca acity to carry the current for a consideral ile period. It isthere fore desirable to make some provision whereby in event a careless or ignorant operator leaves the starting resistance in circuit for longer than a predetermined period the circuit will be 0 ened. In the present invention I accom 'sh this by providing a switchleased to ing device w iich has a tendenc to move to operative position and which w en in operative osition either opens the circuit through said ow voltage device or closes a short circuit around the same. This switching device is set or moved to inoperative positipn by each switch as it is closed and then rermit it to move to operative position. efore, however, it reaches operative position the nextswitch is closed.- If the next switch is not closed then the low voltage device releases the'switches closed and opens the circuit. The last switch of the series is provided with a switch which, when the last switch of-the series is' closed,is operated to render the switching device ineflease the switches. By this means the operator must close each switch within a predetermined time after its receding switch or all the switches closed will open and open the circuit. I

It is obvious that various changes may be made in m device without departing from the spirit 0 my invention.

I have illustrated, for the purpose of disclosing my invention, one form of the same in the accompanying drawings.

In' said drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a motor starting device embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is an end elevation of my device, a art of the dash-pot being shown in section, ig. 3 is a simi switches in an open position, Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a similar view with the switches open, Fig. 6 is a detailed section 11 on the line 66 of Fig. 1, Fig. 7- is a detai ed view of the latch mechanism for holding the switches in a closed position, Fig. 8 is a sectional top view of one of the switches .and a top view of the cooperating rocking dogs, Fig. 9 is a detailed view ofv one of the'rocldng dogs, Fig. 10 is a detail of one of the dogs carried by the operating levers, and Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit connections of my inven tion.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, I provide a plurality of switch levers or arms 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, and 1, which are suitably pivoted or journaled at one end and are provided at the oppositeend with suitable o crating handles. I have shown the severe switch levers as journaled upon a shaft or rod 2, mounted'in bearings 3, formed in suitable brackets 4. The brackets 4. also support a rod Swhich is threaded through a ru er tube 6, which serves as a cushion or buffer against which the extended ends of the switch arms or levers are adapted to impinge when thrown open. Each of the levers carries a contact device-7 made preferably from a number of stri s of copper laid face to face, the free ends 0 which are adapted to engage contact surfaces to. complete the electric circuit. Upon the base board 8, upon which the various parts of the device are mounted is mounted a contact bar 9 with which one end of the contact device 7 of each switch is-adapted to engage, the other end of said device being adapted toengage one of the ar view with the contact terminals 10,109,10 10 ,'1c

are roc and 26 10, and 10 g The contact device of the first and last switcharms is preferably made wider than the remaining contacts, as these contact devices are adapted to carry a larger current than the remaining devices.

Upon the terminal 10 is provided a binding post 11, by'which suitable electrical con-' nections are made therewith, and a second bindin post 12 is carried by the terminal 10 0 upon the terminal 10, and upon the contact bar are mounted a pair of carbon blocks 13 and 14. Thefirst switch arm carries a pair of laterally extending spring arms 15 and 16, upon the ends of which are mounted a pair of carbon blocks 17 and 18 respectively. When the switch arm 1 is moved to close the circuit, the block 17 engages the block 13' and the block 18 enga es the block 14, thereby'closing the circuit om the terminal l0 to the contact bar-9. The further. movement of the switch arm causes the con-v tact device 7 thereof to directly 'conniect'the terminals 10. and 9. Likewise when the switch arm 1 is moved outward, the contact device 7 thereof leaves the terminals 10 and. 9 before the carbon blocks separate, so that y the o eninigany arc that may be formed of the circuit take lace between t e car- ?on blocks instead of etween metallic suraces.

Near the up er end of the switch arm '1 is a lug 19, whicE carries a laterallyextending projection 20, which may take the form of a screw. Mounted upon the base board 8 above the arm 1 is a retaining magnet 21, having an armature-22 pivoted at 23. The. armature carries a laterally and upwardl extending lug 24, and when the arm 1 1s moved to close the-circuit, the projection 20 engages the side of the armature 22 to move the same against the magnet pole, and the magnetism of the magnet retains the armature 22 in this position. The swinging of the armature 22 carries the lug 24 upon the exterior of the projection 20 so that the pro jection will rest in the slot formed between the lug 24 and the armature 22; and as long as the magnet remains. energized, the arm 1 will thus be held in the closed position. When, however, the magnet is denergized, the armature will be released and the weight of the arm will carry the SBJDGJiDtO the position shown in Fig. 3. I

Mounted upon a rod or shaft 25, pivoted in suitable bearings upon the base plate 8, dogs 26, 26 26 26, 26 ,.26,. ach of the dogs has the rear end thereof so shaped. as to en age the base late 8 and limit the downwar movement 0 the dog when free. Upon the end of the dog, to the right hand side, an u wardly extending lip 27 is formed, which has its front edge curved and its rear edge per endicular to the upper surface of the dog. he under side of erases.

,at the left hand edge. The levers 1 a to 1 are each provided with a latch 29, ivoted to the lever at 30 in a slot 31, forms in the lever, the walls of which slot limit the vertical movement of the latch relatively to the switch. The first lever on the left has no latch. Below the latch and formed integrally with the lever is a lug 32 projecting toward the base plate and consisting of two parts 33 and 34. The part 33 is square in section and flat upon the end, and when the lever is in a position to close the circuit, presents a vertical surface. The u per part of the part 34 is inclined or cha ered at an acute angle.

Mounted in bearings formed in the brackets 4 and below the lower ends of the levers is a rod or shaft 35, which carries on one end a cam wheel 36 and between the brackets 4, anumber of ratchet wheels 37, one wheel for each of the levers except the last. These wheels are secured upon the shaft 35 to rotate therewith and are arranged directly in line withthe levers 1 to 1 inclusive. The extension of 'eachof the levers 1 to I carries a pivoted dog 38, which is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet 37.. 'ihe movement of the dog is such that when the lever. is in its 0 en pos1tion it engages one of the teeth of .t e ratchet wheel 37, and as the lever. is

thrown. closed, moves the ratchet wheel around, thereby turning the shaft 35 and the cam wheel 36 therewith.

A switch 39 is mounted upon a vertically movable rod 40, the lower end of which rod is adapted to rest on the cam wheel 36,-and

the upper end of which is connected with a plunger 41, operating in a dash-pot 42. The

ash-pot is suitabl mounted upon a bracket 43, secured to the ass 8. The switch, when in its lowermost position, is ada ted to engage stationary contacts 45 an 46. The cam wheel 36 is preferably provided with seven cam faces. corresponding to the first seven switch arms. One side of each cam extends substantially radially from the center of the wheel, and when the wheel is rotatedby the closing of the switches, the end of the cam clears the lower end of the rod 40, and permits the rod to drop down. The dashpot 42 is adapted to retard the downward movementgof-the rod. The last switch 1 carries on its extension a spring switch member 47, which is adapted, when the arm is in its open tact 4s. A

In Fig. 11, I have shown a diagrammatic view of the circuit connections of my invention. Referring now to this figure, the positive side 49 of the supply mains is connected with the terminal 10. The terminal 10' is connected by a conductor 50, with one terminal of the armature 51 of the motor. The opposite terminal of the armature is connectposition, to engage a stationary con- 66 into the position shown in full lines Fig. 7.

eiasos ed by conductor 52 with the negative side 53 I When the arm 1 is moved to its full closed oi the supply mains. The contact bar 9 is j position, the cam which raises the rod 40 is connected by a conductor 54 with one tcrmoved to a position whereby the rod will minal oi the magnet 21, and by the conduc- I move 03 the cam and start to descend, cartor 54 and a conductor 55 with one terminal of the iield winding 56 of the motor, the opposite side of this fieldwinding being connected with the conductor 52. The opposite terminal of the winding 21 is connected through a high resistance 57 with the negative side 53 of the line, and by a branch conductor 58, with the contact 45. The contact 460i the switch 39 is connected by a conductor 59, with the contact. 48 of the switch 47. A section of. resistance 60 is connected between the contact bar 9 and the terminal 10*. A second resistance 61 is connected between the terminalm and the terminal 10 and is divided into sections connected with the tor minals 19 to 10. It will be noted that as 1011 asthe switch 39 is in its down or closed posltion, the winding of the magnet 21 is short-circuited as long as the last switch 1 is 0 on and the switch 47 closed.

T e operation of starting the motor by the above described device is as follows: Assuming that it be desired to start the motor, the switch arm 1 is closed to first close thegcircuit between the carbon blocks 17 and 13 and 18 and 14, and finall toclose together the terminals 9 and 10, y the contact device 7 thereof. The moving of the arm 1 to a closed position causes the dog 38 to, move the ratchet wheel 37 thereof around, thereby rotating the shaft 35 and with it, the cam wheel 36. As the cam wheel rotates, one of the cams thereof raises the rod 40 and with it the switch 39, thereby openin the shortcircuit aroimd the magnet 21. nder these circumstances, current will flow from the positive side 49 to the contact 10, thence across the arm 1 to contact 9, by conductor 54, through the winding of the retaining magnet 21 and thence through the resistance 57, to the negative side 53- of the line. The magnet is thus energized and retains the arm 1 in its closed position. With the switch-arm 1 closed, circuit is also established from the positive side 49 of the line to the terminal 10, across the arm 1, to the contact bar 9, thence through the section 60 of resistance and through all of the resistance 61 to the contact 10 thence by conductor 50, through the armature 51 of the motor and by conductor 52 to the negative side 53 of the line. Current is also established from conductor 54, by conductor 55, through the field 56 of the motor and thence by con ductor 52 to the negative side 53 of the line. The motor is thus started with all resistance in circuit.

lug 32 of the arm engages the under face of the first rocking dog 26, and raises the same -1 to a close a In moving the arm 1 to the closed position, the oblique wall 34 of the rying with it the switch 39. The descent of the switch 39 is retarded by the dash-pot 42, whereby the switch slowly descends. If the switch descends. completely before the next succeeding switch 1 a is closed, a short-circuit for the magnet 21 will be established from the positive side 49 of the line to the contact terminal 10, across the arm 1, through the rod or shaft 2, to the last arm 1 across the switch 47, to contact 48, thence by condoctor 49, across the switch 39, and by conductor 58, through the high resistance 57, to the negative side 53 of the line. Y The short circuiting of the magnet 21 deenergizes the same and the first switch will fly Open. It is, therefore, necessary. to close the second switch before the switch 39 drops to a closed position. Before the switch 39 drops to a closed position, we will assume that the second switch arm is closed. As the dog 26 is in its raised position, the, latch 29 of the switch arm 1 will ride over the lip 27 of the do 26, and engage the vertical wall thereof, an the switch arm 1 will thus be held in a closed position. At the same time, the portion 34 of the lug 32 of the switch arm 1 will engage and lift the second rocking dog 26,

so that when the arm 1 is closed, the latch 29 thereof will be engaged and held by the lip 27 of the do 26*. lhe moving of the arm position causes the dog 38 thereof to engage the ratchet 37 to move the rod 35, and with it the cam 36,- one step. The cam 36 thus being moved one step, again raises the rod 40 and with it the switch v39 to its full 0 en dposition, where it will again be release an drop down toward the closed position, until the third switch arm is closed to again raise it, it being understood, of course, that the third switch arm must be closed before the switch 39 bridges the contacts 49 and 46. In this manner all of the switches are successively closed. When the last switch is closed, the switch 47 carried thereby will be moved off the contact 48, thereby opening the short-circuit around the magnet 21 at this point, and the switch 39 may then drop down to its closedposition without alfecting the circuit of the magnet 21, whereby the magnet will remain energized and retain the switches closed.

If it is desired to cut in the resistance and open the circuit through the motor, the retainin magnet 21 may be denergized in any suitable manner and the arm 1 will be released and fly outward to the osition shown in Fig. 3. In moving outwar the first rocking dog 26 is permitted to fall and the latch of the second arm 1? is thus released, and the switch arm likewise flies outward. The switch arm 1 permits the second rocking closed will fly dog 26 to fall, thereby releasing the third switch arm, and in a similar manner, .each switch arm releases the nest succeeding arm, until all the switch arms have been released. Any attem t to close one of the switches out of its regu ar order is prevented due to the fact that the flat face 33 will en age the end of the rocking do when the. 0g is in its lower position, an it is only when the dog has been raised to its upper osition that the flat face 33 will pass beneat the end of the rockin dog. Moreover, unless the rockin dog is m the upper position, the latch29 wil ,Iiot engage the 1p 27 upon the dog, and the rocking dog will be held in the up er position only when the receding switc has been closed. The accldental or intentional closing of the switch arms out of their regular order is thus effectively prevented The motor resistance used in devices of this character is usually made of wires 'of suflicient capacity to carry the current fora short time, while the motor is being started, but these wires are not usuallyof sufficient ca acity to carry the current for a considerable period of t1me. It is, therefore, desirable to limit the time in which the switches are operated to remove the resistance from circult. In the present instance the time is limited by the switch 39. When the first switch 1 is closed, the switch 39 is moved to its full open position, but immediately starts to move closed. If the next switch is not closed before the switch 39 closes, the magnet 21 which retains the first switch closed, will become dener zed, and permit the first switch to open, an so on throughout the closing operation. It is thus seen that each switch must be closed within a definite period of time or all of the switches that have been open. I, therefore, 'am enabled to provide atime limit which limits the period in which the switches are closed to cut out the resistance. 7

It is obvious that the electrical connections of my invention may be varied to suitvarying circumstances, that the retaining device may be varied and that the various other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention asset forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a pluralit of switches adapted to be closed in a dehnitesequence, of mechanical, means for opening the circuit through the switches when'{ the next succeeding switch remains unclos ed for a time longer than a predetermined period;

-2. The combination with T pl li y of switches, of means setby said switches for opening the switches when part of the. same remain unclosed for ;a.-longer time than a predetermined perioderases 3. The combination with a lurality .of switches, of retaining means for olding said switches, and means set by said switches for causing said retaining means to release said switches when art of the same remain unclosed for a pre etermined eriod.

4. The combination wit a plurality of switches, of a retaining device for holdin the same, and means operated by each switc for controlling said retaining device.

5. The combination with a plurality of switches, of a retaining means for holding said switches closed, mechanical means set in operation b certain of said switches for controlling sai retaining'means and means operated upon the closing of one of said switches for rendering said controlling means inopera tive.

6. The combination, with a plurality of switches, a retaining mechanism for holding said switches closed, mechanical means set in .aiperation by certain of said switches for ren ering said retaining mechanism ino erative unless another of said switches is c osed within a predetermined period of time and means operated upon the closing of one of said switches for rendering last mentioned means inoperative.

7. In a motor controller the combination with a plurality of switches, of a resistance controlled thereby, means set by the closing of the first switch and having a tendency to move to a position to cause the switches to 0 en the motor circuit, and'adapted to open t e motor circuit unless all of said resistance switches for controlling the motor circuit, a low voltage device cooperating with said switch whereby the same is o erated to 0 en thernotor circuit in event t e voltage alls below a predetermined point, aswitching device o erativel connected with said low voltage evice an adapted to cause the same to cause the circuit to be 0 ened, means for timing the operation of sai switching device, anda mechanical connection between said for controlling the'same, a switc among said device and the first switch whereby said switching device is set.

9. In a motor controller the combination with aresistance, of a pluralit of switches for controlling the same, a switc among said switches for controlling the motor circuit, a

low voltage device cooperating with said switch whereby the same is operated to 0 en the motor circuit in event t e voltage alls f below a -predetermined point, a switchingdevice operativel connected with said low voltage device an adapted to cause the same to cause the circuit to be opened, means for timing'the operat on of said switching device, a mechanical'connection between sald device and the first sw'itch whereby said switching device is set, and means operated when the last switch is closed for rendering said switching device ineffective.-

10. In a motor controller the combination with a resistance, of a plurality of switches l'or controlling the same, a switch among said switches for controlling the motor circuit, a low voltage device cooperating with said switch whereby the same is operated to open the motor circuit in event the voltage falls below a ln'edeterminml point, a switchingdevice operatively connect-ed with said low voltage device to cause the same to cause the circuit to be opened, means for timing the operation of said device, a mechanical connection between said switching device and each of said switches by which saiddevice may be set.

11. In a motor controller the combination with a resistance, of a plurality of switches for controlling the same, a switch among said switches for controlling the motor circuit, a low voltage device cooperating with said switch whereby the same is o erated to o en the motor circuit in event the voltage lalls belowa predetermined point, a switching device 0 eratively connected with said low voltage evice to cause the same to, cause the circuit to be opened, means for timing the operation of said device, a mechanical connection between said-switching device and each of said switches by which the device may be set, and means operated upon the closing of the last switch for rendering said switching device ineiiective.

12. In a motor controller the combination with a resistance of a plurality of switches for controlling the same, a switch among said switches forcontrolling the motor circuit, a low voltage device cooperating with said switch whereby the same is o erated to 0 )en themotor circuit in event t e voltage lalls below a predetermined point, a switching de-- vice operativel connected with said low voltage device an( adapted to cause the same to cause the circuit to be 0 ened, means for timing the operation of sair switching device, and means operated by said switches for setting said switching device.

13. In a motor controller the combination with a resistance, of a pluralit of switches for controlling the same, a switc among said switches for controlling the motor circuit, a low voltage device cooperating with said switch whereby the same is o erated to 0 en the motor circuit in event't e voltage alls below a predetermined point, a switching device o erativel connected with said low voltage evice an adapted to cause the same to cause the circuit to be opened, means for timing the operation of said switching device, means operated by said swltchesfor setting said switehing device, and means operated upon the closing of the last switch for rendering said switching device inefiective.

14. In a motor controller the combination with a resistance, of a plurality of switches for controlling the same, a switch among said switches for controlling the motor circuit, a low voltage device cooperating with said switch whereby the same is o )erated to 0 )en the motor circuit in event the voltage alls below a predetermined point, a switching device operatively connected with said low voltage device and adapted to cause the same to cause the circuit to be opened, means for timing said switching device, and mechanical means for setting the same.

15. In a motor controller the combination with a resistance, of a plurality of switches for controlling the same, a switch among said switches for controlling the motor circuit, a low voltage device cooperating with said switch whereby the same is o )erated to 0 )en the motor circuit in event the voltage alls below a predetermined point, a switching device o1 )eratively connected with saidlow voltage 'device and adapted to cause the same to cause the circuit to be opened, means for timing said switching device, mechanical means for setting the same, and means operated upon the closing-of the last switch for rendering said switching device ino erative.

.'16 In a motor controller, in com ination, a )lurality of switches, a plurality of sections of resistance controlled thereby, means insuring the closure of said switches in a definite sequence, and mechanical means for causing said switches to open, automatically if onset the same remains unclosed for a predetermined time.

17. In a motor controller, in combination, a plurality of switches tendin to stand in open position, a plurality 0? sections of resistance controlled thereby, interlocking means insuring the closure of said switches in a definite sequence and for causing each Switch, when closed, to hold another switch in closed position, retaining means for holding the first switch of the sequence closed, and mechanical means for rendering sa d retaining means ineffective if one of said switches remains unclosed for a predetermined'time.

18. Ina motor controller, in combination, a plurality of switches tending to stand in open position, a plurality of SGO'lZ1OI1S Of resistance controlled thereby, interlocklng means insuring the closure of said switches in a definite sequence and for causing each switch, when closed, to hold another switch closed, a retaining magnet for holding the first switch of the sequence closed, and mechanical means for rendering said retaining ma et ineffective if one of said switches remains .unclosed for a predetermined time.

19. In a motor controller, in combination,

, closed,

apluraiity of switches tending open position, a plurality 0' sections of resistance controlled thereby, interlocking means insuring the closure of said switches in a definite sequence and for-causing each switch, when closed, to hold another switch a retaining magnet for holding the first switch closed, a switch tending to move to a position to render said retaining magnet ineffective, ment of said switch in one direction, and

means for retarding the move to stand in means operated upon the closure of each of said first mentioned switches for moving said last mentioned switch to a predetermined position and then releasing the same In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS L. TATUM Witnesses ALEXANDER H. Lmnnns, JULIA (3 Looms. 

